Residents in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are grap Worsening power shortages in Pakistan -occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK
are fueling social unrest with locals demanding better governance and living conditions.
Residents cite inefficiencies in electricity generation and
corruption in projects like the Neelum-Jhelum
Hydropower Project as key contributors to the crisis. pling with worsening power shortages, triggering severe hardships and mounting frustrations.
The region’s electricity production remains insufficient to meet the
growing demand, while inefficiency and negligence from local
authorities have only worsened the situation. The escalating crisis has
fuelled social unrest with increasing demands
for better governance and improved living conditions.
Highlighting the dire state of affairs, a local resident, Kiyani, stated,
“The power supply in the region is in a critical state. We need a
significant increase in electricity generation. The region requires at
least 3100 kilowatts to meet local demand, but the current generation
hovers between 1200 to 1400 kilowatts
The power station, which was established in 1995, has been neglected
for almost three decades, and despite the pressing need, there has
been no major maintenance or upgrades. With winter setting in,
power production has slowed, and this has led to continuous power
cuts throughout the region.”
The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, inaugurated in 2018, had initially raised hopes of alleviating the power crisis by increasing electricity production. However, theproject has been plagued by persistent technical failures and corruption leaving it stalled for years.
Kiyani elaborated, “The Neelum-Jhelum project has been at a
standstill for over three years. The tunnel has been completely
disrupted due to widespread corruption in the
project.
The government must conduct a thorough investigation.
They should inquire about who approved the NOCs and the
companies that were allocated funds for this project. This is a huge
loss for the people. The government must hold the culprits
accountable.”
Compounding these energy woes are challenges in healthcare, high
unemployment rates, and inadequate infrastructure. These
longstanding issues are fostering a sense of deprivation and neglect
among PoJK residents. As frustrations rise, there are
louder calls for improved governance
transparency, and more autonomy.
The failure to address basic needs and ensure accountability has left
many residents feeling abandoned by the authorities. Locals demand
not only a fairer distribution of resources but also efficient
administration to enhance their quality of life.
